Backwater13 begins Celadon Trucking student training 1/7/13 in Indianapolis, IN.

celadon changed the required mileage after training. You have the option of doing 120,000 miles at .15 or 240,000 at .17. I don't know why anyone would want 240,000 if they could get 120,000. They said 120,000 takes about 6-7 months and after that you can go solo or team with someone. Solo rate is .33 per mile. I start my training next week in Indianapolis at the new school. They provide all meals including lodging. Appears to be the best school of all the ones I've checking from companies offering training. Prime has a similar school but the program is different. They have to drive 40,000 miles with a trainer before going solo or team.

 

Wonder what happened to backwater?

 

Hey sonex. I'm thinking about going with Celadon. I called them today. Keep us posted on how you like it. Thanks.

 

I'm just starting my second week at Celadon's brand new, $6 million dollar truck driving school in Indianapolis. Everything is free (lodging, 3 meals a day in their cafeteria, license fees, DOT medical exam). Everything they have said is true. The first week is lecture in a classroom totaling 40 hours. You will need to get an Indiana driver license in order to get the CDL. The Indiana driver license written exam is 50 questions. About half the class fails it the first time because they don't take it seriously. After passing that you have to take a Knowledge exam at the Bureau of Motor Vehicles. After the knowledge exam you are eligible to take the airbrake exam and combination vehicle test which is what you need for the CDL. They give you 16 days to get this completed. It took me a week to complete all of this including 2 endorsements (tankers and double/triple vehicles). Tomorrow I will start learning the Pretrip and learn to drive the truck.

If you plan to come plan to work and study. A certain amount of people can't pass the tests and go home after 16 days. I had no trouble passing the tests
but I do study as there is no other way. After we get the CDL you go out with a trainer for 6 weeks and then team with someone (could be a friend) for 6-7 months. After that you can continue teaming or you can go solo which is what I plan to do. They want you to work for them for a year to pay back the $7000 fee for the school. The school is really nice but most time is spend indoors thus far for me.

I'm happy with everything but it is a lot of work but nothing in this world is free and a price has to be paid. Each class is about 42 people but they all don't complete the school. In our class there was one guy who tested positive for drugs, they caught another one with pot in his pocket. They could smell it.They were promptly led to the front door. A few others left that couldn't pass the tests in the 16 day time period. Another guy missed lecture 2 days in the room---they found him sleeping in his room. He was led to the front door.

This is what the first 2 weeks is like. They accept everyone if your background check is good and you have a decent driving record. Most of the drivers who stay make about $50,000 a year which is not too bad. If you have any questions let me know.

Russ (sonex7)

 

It sounds like you are in the dorms. I am out at the hotel.Find me at school and say Hi. I'm the one with Red hair.

 

Thanks Russ. How many people are in a dorm...2?

 

Spm,
I can answer that one. The dorm rooms are individual but the bathrooms are shared with the whole floor by gender. Which is to say that the ladies have one bathroom and the men have another. There is also a computer room and a laundry room on the 2nd floor and a gym on the first floor by the cafeteria.

 

It depends where you are housed. With the high number of students coming here weekly, sometimes the dorm rooms ( ent1 person private rooms with TV) get filled up and the school then has satellite hotels (like the Quality Inn) and they shuttle you back and forth. Celadon spent $6 million to build their school and have plans to open several others in different cities. The facilities are excellent.

 

Do the trucks have GPS on them.

 

HI I want to know if they got a center or school in Denver CO,"As a company driver - you can do your orientation in Denver, CO on Tuesday next week " I got an email to head out to to go to orientation for Celadon,but would like to know if it's a terminal or another headquarters like INDY. not teaming going solo otr.